Ramakant Desai: 10 interesting facts about the tiny man with a large heart

If ever there was a man who proved that size and stature could be two very different things, it was Ramakant Desai.

Born June 20, 1939, Ramakant Desai was one of India’s fastest bowlers since the days of Mohammad Nissar and Amar Singh. Shiamak Unwalla looks at 10 interesting facts about the man whose deceptive pace and bounce troubled even the best of batsmen.

 

1.  “Tiny” assassin

If ever there was a man who proved that size and stature could be two very different things, it was Ramakant Desai. Standing at five feet, four inches tall, Desai was capable of bowling at a deceptive pace and getting the ball to rear up unnaturally for a man of his small size.He was affectionately called “Tiny” because of his height, but he was still by far the fastest bowler India possessed throughout the 1960s.

 

2.  The debut — a preview of things to come

Desai made his Test debut against the West Indies at Delhi in 1959. India scored 415, but West Indies responded with 644 for eight, and ended up beating India by an innings. However, Desai had an impressive debut. He bowled 49 overs for 169 runs took four wickets, including John Holt, RohanKanhai, Collie Smith, and the great Garry Sobers. His tireless effort on a dead track served as a template that he would follow for much of his career.

 

3.  Resolute tailender

Though his batting was nothing much to speak of, Desai had it in him to both play the big hits and defend dourly. His highest Test score came against Pakistan at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, in 1960.Coming in at No. 10, he scored 85 in 206 minutes with seven boundaries and shared a record 149-run with Nana Joshi for the ninth wicket. It is an Indian record for the ninth wicket that stands even now.

 

4.  Phenomenal average

Born and bred in Bombay, Desai played exactly 150 First-Class matches, taking 468 wickets at an impressive 24.10. Of these,he played 53 Ranji Trophy matches for Bombay, for whomhe captured 239 wickets at a phenomenal 15.61. Given that these wickets came on flat Indian decks, his record is even more impressive.

 

5.  A memorable Ranji Trophy final — with the bat!

The crowning glory of Desai’s batting career came in the 1962-63 Ranji Trophy final against Rajasthan, where he scored his only First-Class century[107] as Bombay won the title.

 

6.  A great bunny

The concept of “bunnies” in cricket has existed for years. Desai too had one batsman against whom he had an impressive record: the Pakistani legend Hanif Mohammad. Ramakant dismissed the great Haniffour times in nine innings during the 1960-61 series.

 

7.  Heroic final hurrah

Desai played Test cricket for only nine years, appearing in his final Test against New Zealand in India’s 1968 tour Down Under. New Zealand batted first at Dunedin, getting bowled out for 350.Desaitook two wickets. In response, India were 300 for eight when Desai walked out to bat, and were soon 302 for nine. Then Ramakant and No. 11 Bishan Singh Bedi added an invaluable 57 to help India take the lead. This was impressive in itself, but there was more. Desai was struck on the face by a bouncer during his innings. His jaw was fractured and there was an instant swelling. Braving the pain, Desai batted on to remain unbeaten on 32. He even bowled seven overs in the second innings, but it was EAS Prasanna who turned the tide with a six-wicket haul as India won what proved to be Desai’s final Test.

 

8.  An early retirement

Having played his last Test at 29, Desai retired from all First-Class cricket the following season. The toll of bowling tirelessly on flat decks had finally made its mark. One can only wonder how lethal he would have been on responsive pitches with someone to share the pace-bowling workload.

 

9.  Brave administrator

Desai had a brief but strenuous two-year stint as BCCI Chairman of Selectors. He was responsible for making Sachin Tendulkar captain, and then making the brave call of removing him from that position. He had to quit his post early due to ill health, and passed away mere months after resigning.

 

10.  A sad end

In April 1998, the 58-year old Desai was admitted to hospital following a heart attack. Four days later, while awaiting surgery, he passed away. It was much too early for a man who had put his body on the line for the better part of a decade to keep India’s fast-bowling hopes alive.

 

(Shiamak Unwalla is a proud Whovian and all-round geek who also dabbles in cricket writing as a reporter with CricketCountry. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)

 

More from this writer:

Brian Statham: 10 interesting facts about the legendary England fast bowler

Ed Cowan: Eight interesting facts about the Australian opener

Boeta Dippenaar: 10 interesting facts about the former South African batsman

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